Repeater indicator for pulse echo distance measuring devices



c. H2, 1948. R. M. SMITH 2,451,000

REPEATER, INDICATOR FOR PULSE ECHO DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES Filed Nov. 3o, 1940 2 sneaks-sheet 1v Fg 0 A0000 IG. j. c0NvEmH 51 f I 35 Low /v/G-H FHL'Q. j '33 I C... falaz/wey SWL'EP HND 'SWEEP m1/En l rF/MsM/r'zz'n #ECE/vz 3%- l w11 777% l /j i Fog;

r Pfl/,752: M/xfm f//vp PULSE )mcs/V111? I SPL/7,75 FREQUENCY ,-a EN T gg/JL paf/BLE?? EH 0H asc/LLHroR I lvS'fC'O/KD 'PULSE 0252/212020; I MPL/r/EH Ewing/l5 I' I I 77 79 0 10000 /NPUT ,Y CONVERTER I /fypur 5 75 4 I v :hwntor L, 200 Rogernsmbth i@ u.; I I sow 3000 l au 5I v 6000 Gttorncg 0d. l2, 1948. R; M. SMITH 2,45000 REPEATER INDICATOR FOR PULSE ECHO DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES Filed Nov. 30, 1940l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MMM/ F01; ,5E /NPUT Cual? ENT FROM 69 /co/vos copi.' v 109 MOSA IC PULSE *131 j RECH/VHF F2635 G/16MB; HG. 6;

r/iifiented oet. iz, 194s uNlp STATE s PATENT OFFICE REPETER INDICATOR FOR PULSE ECHO `DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES Rogers M. Smith, Merchantville, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application November 30, 1940, Serial No. 367,909

` 12 Claims. 1 y

This invention relates to a, repeater mechanism for indicati-ng at a remote point the distancefrom '-a radio pulse system to a wave reflecting medium.

- synchronism with a timing sweep voltage which is applied to deflect the ray of a cathode ray tube.

Thus, the cathode ray traces a path which is indicated on the fluorescent screen along one coordinate representing distance or time. IA radio reindicates the initial outgoing pulse, aswell as the received radio echoes. These indications appear as ray deflections along'a second coordinate.

If the pulse is extremely short, for example, of the order of fof a microsecond, and if the sweep occurs at a rapid rate, very satisfactory indications are obtained from echoes which travel distances as short as 40 or 50 feet and as far as sev- 'eral miles. Indications of this type are'most useful in the operation of aircraft. While it is often suilcient to provide one indicator for the craft navigator, it may be advantageous to indicate the closest wave-reflecting object at other points on -the aircraft.

In view of the extremely high frequencies involved,it is very difcult to transmit the high frequency currents over any transmission lines of practical size without serious attenuation', rthe'rmore, while lower frequency currents may obtained `from other types of measuring systems, if a remote indicator is of the cathode ray type,

. ceivr is connected to the cathode ray tube which L 2 point remote from a puls'e echo device the rst echo of a plurality of echoes.

The invention will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 represents one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 represents a modification of the invention;

" Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent in schematic diagram form" remote indicators of the types employed in practicing the invention. and Figure 6 is a circuit diagram of a pulse broadener.

Referring to Figure 1a source I of high frequency sweep and keyer voltages is connected to a transmitter 3 and to the horizontal deilecting electrodes 5 of a cathode ray tube 1. The transmitter includes a directive antenna 9 from which waves II are directed to the wave reflecting medium I3. The Waves are reflected to a receiving antenna I5 which is connected to a receiver I1. The output of the receiver is applied to thevertical deflecting electrodes I9 of the cathode ray tube. The cathode ray tube is energized Iby a power supply 2 I. There is incorporated in front of or within theA cathode ray tube a television pickup tube l23 including a lens 25 for focusing the cathode ray trace including the distance indications other than the initial or zero pulse on a mosaic, or storage screen 21. The pickup tube includes horizontal deflecting electrodes 29 which are connected to a low frequency sweep voltage source 3|. The low frequency sweep source is also connected to a converter 33 which will be hereinafter described. The converter is connected to the output circuit of the pickup tube. The converter output is insubstantialA power supplies are required and the indicator tends to be bulky: It is, therefore, one

of the objects of the present invention to providev means for indicating radio echo distance observations at points remote from the measuring device by means including a conventional DArsonval meter. It is another object of. the invention to provide means for converting the high frequency shortest distance from a pulse echo device to a radio` wave reflecting medium. Another object is to provide means ,for indicating accurately at a ldicated on a movable element or DArsonval type meter 35. It should be understood that the pickup tube beam may be arranged to scan any other type of image storage screen other than the mosaic described heretofore. Also potentials may be derived, in any other well known manner, from the storage screen, and applied to the converter.

The operation of the device illustrated in Fig. .1' is essentially as follows: At the start of the high frequency sweep a keying impulse is applied to the transmitter. At the same time the cathode ray of the cathode ray tube is swept from the zero indication toward the maximum which, for example, may oe 10,000 feet. radio pulse travelsuntil it strikes the reecting medium I3. and thereupon is returned at least in part to the receiver I1. The pulse is applied to the vertical deilecting platev I9 to produce an indication 31 on the cathode ray tube. This indication corresponds to the distance from the pulse echo system to the reflecting medium. The pulses are 'generally transmitted at a high rate, for

The outgoing'.

example. 20,000 per'second. It shouldbe understood that the pulse duration is generally of the order of one-fiftieth part ofl thev time between pulses. The persistence of the fluorescent screen makes the trace 98 appear steady notwithstanding the fact that the receivedl pulses actually vary not only at the rate oi' the transmitter butalso due to the nature of the reflecting medium.

In any event an image of the cathode ray trace 31, 38 is focused by means of the lens 29 on the mosaic, or storage screen 21. The mosaic is scanned by the application oi' low frequency sweep voltages derived from thev source 9| to the deflectingelectrodes 29. The potentials oi' the low frequency sweep. which may be sinusoidal or saw-tooth wave form. are applied to a converter 33. Potentials derived from the mosaic 21 and corresponding to the received echo are also applied to the converter. If the phase of the potential corresponding to the received echo pulse is compared with either the potential corresponding to the initial pulse or with the lowv frequency sweep potential, distance may be indicated. With this type of 'indicator a plurality of echoes, which are separately visible or grouped on the cathode ray screen, will be integratedv because a. single pulse of potential will be derived from the mosaic and hence indicatedas a single reading. If the converter selects the average or the mean of a plurality of echo pulses the distance indicated will correspond to mean distance rather than the nearest part oi the reflecting twice the difference frequency are applied to a phase splitter 41 and hence to the deflecting electrodes 49 of a cathode ray tube 5I. The currents from the phase splitter cause the cathode ray to rotate around the scale 53 at a comparatively low angular frequency. A

The first oscillator 4| is connected to a pulse generator 55 which is connected to the transmitter 51. The output of the transmitter is applied to a directive antenna. 59 from which pulses of energy 6I are directed toward the wave reflecting medium 63. The echo pulses are ap'- plied to the antenna 65 of a receiver 61 which includes a local oscillator.

The second oscillator 43 is connected through a second pulse generator 69 to the receiver 81. The output of the receiver is applied-to a pulse broadener 1| and hence to an amplifier 18. The pulse -broadener 1i may consist of a ther'rnionic tube whose output circuit includes an A.C. sourcefor energizing the tube and a resistor connected between the source and the anode. The output voltages are obtained across the resistor, as shown in Fig. 6. The output of the amplieris. applied to a 4 1946, and entitled "Distance and'dlrectional determining system. The pulse broadener. which is source between the cathode and anode. The output is derived across the resistor. For the purpose of the present application it is sufficient to say that the first oscillator 4I determines the pulse frequency or rate at which pulses are radiated. 'Ihe second oscillator 49 determines the rate at which the-receiver 'is keyed on and oif. Since these rates arediiferent and since the cathode ray is rotated at twice the .difference of the rates and in synchronism with the pulseA radiation, itfollows that the received signals willV be indicated on the cathode ray tube screen 53 only at the' times when the renected pulses reach the receiver at the instant the receiver is keyed on. Moreover, these indications are so related to the rotating ray that the distances of the reflecting objects may be indicated by calibrating the cathode ray tube as shown. It should be understood that the sweep frequency voltage occurs at al relatively. low angular frequency and the received broadened pulse is of comparatively long duration. It is, therefore, notnecessary to convert currents of these frequencies into currents of lower frequency. The vcurrents may be applied directly to the con,- verter 11 which may be located either at the remote station along with the meter 1I or the two devices may be separated. y

l Several diiferent forms of converters may be yused. One such converter is shown in` Fig. 3 in which pulses representing currents from the'television pickup tube are applied to the first transformer 9 I. The low frequency sweep currents are applied to a second transformer II. The output from the first transformer is applied in parallel to grid electrodes l5, 91 of a pair of thermionic terminal of a B battery 91.

control electrode 15v in the cathode ray tube 5I.

. 'I'he output of the second transformer may in" clude a filter circuit 99 whose function is to eliminate currents of any undesired frequency. The

filter is connected to a pair of phase splitting circuits |01, |03. Potentiometers |05, |01 are connectedrespectively across the phase splitting circuits. The sliders of the potentiometers are connected respectively to control grids |99, III. 1n this arrangement the sweep potentials are applied to the thermionic tube inputs in pushpull while the pulse potentials are applied in parallel whereby` the ,output meter indicates the phase4 of the tends to make the average readings consistent and to eliminate the edects of variations in the received echo.

Fig. 41s a diagram of andther type of converter which may be used in conjunction with either the circuit of Fig. 1 or the circuit of Fig. 2. A transformer IIS is arranged so that the transmitter pulses or the alternating currents from which the pulses are derived are applied to the primary and hence to the secondary which includes alowresistance tuned circuit H5. This-circuit is conthrough a grid current limiting resistor |21 to .the other of the coplanar grids H9. The anode* circuit of the tube |2| is connected through 'a meter |29 to the positive terminal of. a B battery 3|. In this arrangement the'low decrement of the oscillatory circuits IIB and |25 corresponds to the persistence ofthe fluorescent and mosaic screens when 'the pickup tube is used. The pulses are applied to the oscillatory circuits, cause ing oscillatory currers to be established in the tuned circuits. The subsequently applied pulses tend to only slightly change the phase of the initial oscillations. The phases of the oscillatory currents are indicated in the meter/ |29 which may be calibrated to indicate the distance of thenearest reflecting medium or the average distance.

2,451,0oo *I 6 .Thus the invention has been described as a r mote indicator for a radio pulse echo distance measuring4 system. The. pulse echo system employs-a high frequency sweep and a rapidv pulse. Since it is'not practical to transmit' over-conventional.`.lines.either the high frequency sweep or the rapid pulse; these4 components are reestablished, by means of a television pickup tube.

as low frequency currents which are easily trans` A .mitted to a-remote point. The remote'indicator operates in synchronism with the low frequency currents and includes a `movingcoilwhich'responds to the echo'signals for indicating the distance -of the reflecting object.l

I claim asI my inventionzv I 1-. A repeater for.a pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving distance measuring'device for .'re-` peating at a remote point the visual .indications of. such device including means responsive to Ithe received echo signal for deriving a current corresponding to the echo. means responsive to the outgoing pulses for deriving a reference 'cur-f rent, said corresponding current and said reti erence current both havinga frequency lower than the pulse vtransmission rate, and means including a moving element for indicating the distance as a function of the relative phase of said While either of thev'foregoing converters may be used they will not necessarily provide an indication of the distance of the nearest wave reecting object but instead may indicate' a meanv .or average distance. lA more accurate indication may -be obtained'by the cirbuit arrangementof Fig. 5, in which a rectier |26 is connected to the pulse generator |3I. The rectifier cathode' is connected to the anode of a gaseous discharge tube |33. The grid ofjthe gas tube is connected through a suitable biasing battery to the receiver output circuit. The anode vvof the gas tube.is also. connected to ground through a capacitor C and resistor R. The value of the capacitor is 'chosen 'so that'it is charged to a predetermined potential by the rectified pulses. Thevalue of the resistor is preferably chosen eo that the discharge time? of the anode circuit, capacitor, and resistor s of pulse and reflection from the shortest distance to 'be measured.. The discharge 'currents may be am- ,'The incoming pulse ignites the gas in thetube which suddenly-and substantially cmpletely discharges the capacitor C. The tube |33 .remainsignited, and since the capacitor is discharged, sub-v sequent received echo pulses have no effect. 4The next'transmitter pulse will restore the tube to an. operable condition for the firstincoming' echo pulse. Thus only the first echo pulse operates the device and the remote meter |29 Yindicates onlythe nearest reflecting body. It should be under-l stood that a relaxation type of-tube circuit may lbe substituted for the gaseous discharge tube, or

an;1 device whichserves a similar function may' be employed.

- 2. A repeater Currents.

1for apulse transmitting-.pulse echo receiving 'distance measuring evi'ce `for repeating at a remote point ther visual indica- .tions of such device including means persistently responsive to the received echo signal for derivi g a current havinga phase dependent upon said echo signaliandhaving a'frequency.4 lower than the repetition rate of the echo signal, means persistently responsive to .the transmitted pulse for deriving a current having a phase dependentl upon.`said. transmitted pulse and hafvigfa frerquencylower than the repetition rate of the transmitted pulses, and means including a moving coll type of' meter for indicating at a re .mote pointlthe phjase of the currentcorrespo ding -to said receivedecho with-i reference tothe phasepf the current. corresponding to said transthe sameorder as the time between the initial. mmed' pulse' 'n 3. A rpea'ter'fv the'character of claim 2 in which at least lone of said persistently responsivemeans includes-a resonant circuit. c

4. A 'repeater for a' pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving system including a .pair of tuned circuits, meansfdr applying the transmitted pulse to one of said tuned circuits for converting said pulse to a current of 4substantially sinusoidal i rents established by the application of said pulses to said circuits for indicating their relativephases.

5. A repeater for a pulseecho distance system in which a transmitted pulse is selected as al Amusico l including a moving coil meter for indicating at 'a remote point the phase of said current of dependent phase with reference to the current of reference phase. v

' 8. A repeater for pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving systems including meansresponsive to the transmitted pulse for deriving a current of reference phase and of a frequency lower than the repetition rate of the transmitted pulses,

means responsive to thefirst received echo pulse only-for deriving a current of variable phase and of a frequency lower than the repetition rate of the transmitted pulses, and means including a moving coil meter for indicating the phase oi said current of variable phase with reference to said current of reference phase at a point remote from said system.

7. A repeater for a pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving system including means persistently responsive to the received echo pulse for and of a frequency lower than said pulse transl mitting rate, and means including a movingcoil meter for determining at a remote pqint the phase of said current derived, rfrom the received echo pulse.

8. A repeater for a pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving distance measuring device for repeating at a.- remote point the visual indications of such device in which the distance of an object is .indicated as a cathode ray trace variation on a mosaic, means for establishing a current of reference phase, means for applying said reference current to scan said mosaic to derive therefrom a current having a, phase corresponding to said distance, and means for indicating at a remote point the phase of sai-d derived current with respect to said reference phase.

9. A repeater for a pulse transmitting-pulse echo receiving system in which the received echo pulses are indicated as variations of a cathode ray on a fluorescent screen including means for generating a low frequency current. means for l forming' an image of said screen, a photoelectric surface for establishing electric charges corresponding to said image. means connected to said generator for sweeping said Dhotoelectric surface at a low frequency rate to obtain pulses of curpeating at a remote point the visual indications of such device in which the distance of an object is indicated as a cathode ray trace variation on a storage screen, means for establishing e. current a of reference phase,.means for applying said reference current to scan said storage screen toy derive therefrom a current having a phase corresponding to said distance. and means for indieating at a, remote point the phase oi' said derived current with respect to said reference phase.

11. A distance-indicating device, including: a transmitter for transmittingl toward an object, the distance of which is to be measured, a steep frontelectromagnetic wave train consisting of only a few ultra high frequency cycles for reflection back from. the object: means for receiving the reflection of -said wave train from such object; means for producing a cathode-ray beam; means for causing said cathode-ray beam to sweep along a defined path. said causing means being responsive to the transmission of said wave train by said transmitter; means for causing interruption ot the sweep of said beam along said defined path in response to receipt of the reflected wave train by said receiving means; an electric circuit providing for ow of electric current therein; means for varying the ilow oi current in said electric circuiti in accord with the duration of said sweep along said defined path; and means in said circuit responsive to said variations in the flow of current in the circuit.l

12. A repeater device for a pulse echo distance system for repeating at a remotepoint the visual indications of such device in which means are included for transmitting a pulse. of wave energy. means'forreceiving said pulse energy after reection from a plurality of objects whose distances are to be determined. means for indicating said distances as functions of the respective propogation timesof said wave energy, means responsive to said transmitted pulse for deriving a current corresponding to the outgoing pulse, means responsive-to the first of the received reilected pulses for deriving a current corresponding to said tlrst received reflected pulse, and means including a' meter'with a movable coil and' pointer for 'indieating at a remote point the distance of the nearestof said objects as a. function of the relative vphase of said currents.

aoc/Ens M. sMI'ri-LV REFERENCES CITED The following'references are of record in the ille of, this patent:

UNI'I'EDz STATES PATENTS Name I Date Randall Feb. 28, 1928 Nicolson Feb. 6, 1934 Reich Aug. 2'?, 1935 Number Terry Sept. 29, 1936 McSpadden Sept. 12, 1939 Hansen et al Aug. 27, 1946 

